Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

PHILADELPHIA:

SEVERAL OF the island's top schools arrived here for the 114th Penn Relays on Tuesday, but Jamaica's fastest junior, Yohan Blake, was missing from the party.

Edwin Allen girls and St. Jago boys headed the high-school teams, while G. C. Foster College was the lone territory institution to arrive at press time. University of Technology and Holmwood girls were scheduled to arrive later in the evening.

However, it wasn't until after the athletes disembarked from Air Jamaica flight JM051 that Blake's absence was recognised.

Coach Danny Hawthorne, when asked about his star athlete, said: "He is resting at home. I cannot run him too often. The World Junior and Olympic Games are the targets," said Hawthorne.

Blake, along with André Walsh, Ryker Hilton and Nickel Ashmeade, carried St. Jago to an impressive 39.96 win last year in the 4x100.

They will now depend on Hilton, Ashmeade, Walsh and Akeem Smith but, without Blake, Champs Class One winners Calabar could start as favourites.

Calabar will have Ramone McKenzie, Andrew Riley, Warren Weir and Earl Lee on their team.

The last time Blake ran, at the Carifta Games, he pulled up five metres from the tape but held on for the victory in 10.32 seconds.

The 114th Penn Relays, which run into high gear tomorrow at the Franklin Field Stadium, will feature more than 30 Jamaican teams.